Texans retaining Brown delivers message about their commitment

Signing left tackle Duane Brown to a $53.4-million contract extension was significant for two reasons.

First, it secured one of the NFL’s premiere left tackles through the 2018 season. What used to be one of the Texans’ problem positions will be in good hands with Brown, who receives $22.081 million guaranteed to continue to protect quarterback Matt Schaub’s blind side.

Second, it showed Brown’s teammates that if they work hard and play well there’s a good chance they’ll be rewarded. The Texans did the same with running back Arian Foster (five years, $43.5 million, $20.75 million guaranteed) and center Chris Myers (four years, $25 million, $14 guaranteed) during the offseason.

Brown, whose salary cap figure this year is $4.589 million, and agents Andy Ross and Ken Landphere should be commended for not making outlandish demands as many players and agents do.

Smith and vice president of administration Chris Olsen, the primary contract negotiator, should be praised for doing a fair deal and tying up one of the team’s best players.

“His agents, Andy and Kenny, did an outstanding job of representing Duane and hearing all of our concerns,” Smith said. “We were responsive to them, and they were responsible to us, and that’s how you get deals done.

“As for Chris, he did a tremendous job. He’s put a system in place that allows us to objectively look at what these contracts should be, and he’s been great on the negotiating end.”

When Smith returned from vacation and prepared for the start of training camp, two of his preseason goals were to sign Brown and outside linebacker Connor Barwin to extensions.

Now the clock is ticking on Barwin, who’s scheduled to earn $565,000. Olsen also has been negotiating with his agent, Scott Smith.

Barwin, who led the Texans with 11½ sacks last season, was the second pick in 2008, one round behind Brown.

Brown was asked how he felt getting his deal done before Barwin and Schaub, whose contract also expires after the season.

“I’m honored, man,” he said. “Those are two great players, and my job on the left side of the line is to keep No. 8 (Schaub) clean. For them (management) to show they wanted to get me done early means a lot to me.

“I’m very blessed. I think the Texans feel I’m an elite tackle, and that’s why they chose to pay me as well as they have. My validation comes from my peers and my performance.”

When the Texans were born in 2002, they thought former Jacksonville left tackle Tony Boselli would solidify the position for a few years, but he had a bad back and never recovered.

Chester Pitts, drafted in the second round to be a guard in 2002, was forced to play left tackle. They thought the position was taken care of by third-round pick Charles Spencer in 2006, but he suffered a badly broken leg that ended his career.

Finally, with the 26th pick in 2008, they selected Brown. The only blemish on his record was a four-game suspension in 2010 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

“It took me a while to mature and to get to this point in my life where I’ve become a complete pro,” Brown said. “Everyone knows how hard I work and how serious I take my job.”

Brown’s teammates in the offensive line were giving him a good-natured hard time about his extension.

“I’ve got to thank those guys,” he said. “Without those hogs up front, I wouldn’t be successful as I am.”